The Shelter of God’s Promises is one of the latest books by author, speaker and former 700 Club host, Sheila Walsh. The promises she shares are all centered on Jesus — the cleft of God — and His assurance to be our shelter. Drawing on her own personal experiences and using insightful summaries of scripture, Sheila makes the case that we have refuge in God. If you’re facing a storm, God’s promise to BE your shelter is hope you can cling to. If you’re not in the storm now, prepare by taking God’s word to heart, because storms WILL come. It’s not “if” but “when”. To assist you in applying the lessons to your own life, the book has a Study Guide included for personal reflection or group discussion.

Over all, I liked the book. While some of the personal narratives felt forced or even out of place, the spiritual perception demonstrated in Sheila’s accounts of scripture are quite inspired. Although I never formed a clear picture of the structure intended by the book, The Shelter of God’s Promises still spoke to me and helped my understanding of the fact that God is always with us, caring for us and protecting us “in the midst”.

The most meaningful part of the book for me was the very last part. Sheila talks of the perspective of John the Baptist at the end of his life. John, having devoted his entire life to “making a way for the Lord” was beheaded after suffering in prison. How must he have felt when he realized that Christ would not intervene? It is recorded in Luke 7:20 that he sent two of his disciples to Christ to ask ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’. In Luke 7:22-23 Jesus answered, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” The majority of that scripture is quoting Isaiah 61:1 but it omits the part of the verse that speaks of freeing captives. John would have recognized the omission. Surely his heart sank as he digested the message: he would not know the freedom Christ came to bring…not yet. The crux of the matter is a question that we all must face at one time or another in our lives. “…will you love and serve a God you do not always understand?…God could intervene, but for reasons known only to Him, He does not.” (p.181)

The answer that gives me the most comfort comes from I Corinthians 13:12: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Sheila Walsh states, “We are a people who do not live for this world. This is not our home. But until we finally see Jesus face-to-face, He has promised that he will never leave us. He has promised that He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us” (p.182). Stand on that promise!

**BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book as part of their book reviews blogger program.**

2 responses to “The Shelter of God’s Promises”

Love Sheila Walsh! Thanks for the recommendation. Another wonderful book on God’s promises is pastor James MacDonald’s newest, “Always True.” Full of Scripture and reminders of God’s faithful and precious promises. I recommend it.